Baculoviruses

Definition

A family of rod-shaped, double-stranded DNA viruses (family Baculoviridae) that infect arthropods, particularly lepidopteran larvae. Baculoviruses produce two virion phenotypes during their replication cycle: budded virus for systemic spread within the host and occlusion-derived virus packaged in protein crystals (polyhedra or granules) for horizontal transmission between hosts. They are widely used as biological control agents and as expression vectors in molecular biology.

Etymology

From Latin baculum (rod, staff) + virus, referring to the rod-shaped virion morphology.

Example

The nucleopolyhedrovirus of the cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) is a baculovirus applied as a microbial insecticide in greenhouse vegetable production.

Synonyms

• Baculoviridae
• Nucleopolyhedroviruses
• granuloviruses

Related Terms

• Biological control
• entomopathogenic virus
• nucleopolyhedrovirus
• Granulovirus
• polyhedrin
• occlusion body
• insect pathology
• viral pesticide

Usage Notes

Baculoviruses are distinguished from other insect viruses by their large, circular dsDNA genomes (80–180 kb) and the production of occlusion bodies. The family is divided into four genera: Alphabaculovirus (nucleopolyhedroviruses of Lepidoptera), Betabaculovirus (granuloviruses), Gammabaculovirus (nucleopolyhedroviruses of Hymenoptera), and Deltabaculovirus (nucleopolyhedroviruses of Diptera). In applied entomology, the plural form often refers to the group as biological control agents, while singular 'baculovirus' may indicate a specific isolate or species.